Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Beyond “inclusive”

Inclusive, like
the Sunday collection, can’t simply be a token? Or dictated by
political correctness? Modern-day buzzwords have become part of our
lexicon and saw how we would throw around Millennium Development
Goals or MDGs, for example, or Sustainable Development?
What we don’t want is to be callous that could come with
consistently missing these yardsticks? Where will the desire for
self-improvement come from? And as the Greeks learned the hard way,
the vacuum would attract leaders that will pander to the people –
until the nation becomes ungovernable! For example, we like to talk
about Binay; is he a reformer or a panderer? And given we Pinoys like
‘tsismis,’ many Fil-Ams have expressed concern (similar to
the ‘tsimis’ that circulated about Villar before) about his
rags-to-riches story. But they also believe in redemption – is he
one to be believed in?

We’re 50 years behind
in economic development. And the writer remembers the first time he
and the wife flew in to Eastern Europe (i.e., Sofia, Bulgaria) on
business. [Early on the family visited China and Eastern Europe on
holiday.] And it was a dreary afternoon with the first snowfall of
the season coming down as their plane was taxiing to the gate. And
the decades of Soviet rule palpable from the dilapidated structures
that dotted the way to the terminal building. It was the pits! But
the writer had responded to the call for volunteerism following 9/11;
and one month was all he was giving what he then thought was an
adventure. And that was just ten years ago. “How could these people
build a modern airport while we can’t”? The wife wondered aloud
as they were waiting for their flight, traveling back to New York
recently. [We like blaming others except ourselves and consequently
we’re half a century behind in development?]

They squandered 20 years
transitioning to democracy. We’ve squandered over 20 years since
People Power. They still have corruption and organized crime (and
against which the prime minister is waging war with help – i.e.,
resources and expertise – from the EU) but they have participated
in and tapped what the world has to offer. Their showcase
office/residence park is a German investment; and the individual who
headed the local subsidiary is today the country’s president. And
his challenge is to replicate the success of the project in the
country’s infrastructure program – and the EU is behind the
efforts too. They saw how Hong Kong and Singapore employed taxation
to attract foreign investments and so they set their income tax rate
at a flat 10%.

And as the locals would
share with the writer: “Before it was all about mother Russia
that we saw on government TV, but today the prime minister is
fighting Russian oil interests – to ensure they pay the correct
taxes – and even the Russian-sponsored green field nuclear
facility; because there is a more cost-effective option, i.e.,
expanding the capacity of an existing facility. And we see more US
personalities on TV, including the US ambassador. And those brands –
from food to technology – that we only associated with the West
have made investments here.” There is not much parochial
thinking there? To them inclusive is not about livelihood projects
but pursuing economic development, based on an open economy. They
know what a closed economy brought them over decades. Of course, the
older folks find the loss of their daily ration of bread and
vegetables from their communist rulers disconcerting. But the younger
set has effectively taken over.

The writer still
remembers the decade he covered Asia. And these Eastern Europeans
clearly are following the Asian template. But we Filipinos are still
debating whether Lee Kuan Yew or Mahathir is right or wrong? We want
to replicate our last 50 years? Because that is what Philippine-style
democracy and economic development is about? If a tiny country with
less than 10% our population can generate almost twice in foreign
direct investments or > $25 billion more, what do we call our
efforts – a reflection of our cacique culture? How can we expect to
be “inclusive” when we know full well that we don’t have the
requisite levels of investment and technology? More to the point,
“inclusive” comes from an open economy – until then, we’re
simply paying lip service? "Within groups selfish individuals
beat altruistic individuals, but groups of altruists beat groups of
selfish individuals . . . Individual selection promoted sin, while
group selection promoted virtue," writes Edward O. Wilson,
professor emeritus, Harvard University; Evolution and our inner
conflict, NY Times, 24th Jun 2012.

Genesis of this Blog

Now a book

Advocacy

About Me

I started writing to columnists and newspaper editors at the end of a trip to the Philippines over Holy Week in 2008 – to echo the frustrations expressed by friends and relations that were much louder and more intense than prior trips. My first thought was: with so much talents and skills how could the country be the basket case of Asia? Are we simply too nice as a people? Since then I have kept abreast with local news and opinions.
I have been a business consultant (since 2003) focused on Eastern Europe. My principal client in Bulgaria, a consumer-products maker, was chosen by the European Business Awards in 2011 as among Europe’s best from the 15,000 companies vetted for the selection. I started my career in 1968 in human resources in the Philippines. I then joined a Fortune 500 company in 1981, working with its Manila subsidiary for seven years and later moved up to its Asian regional headquarters and finally assumed a global responsibility (in global strategy, organization and business competitiveness) until my retirement. I have likewise done consulting work in the Philippines. I live with my family in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.